Duke basketball pulled through with a big win in the Champions Classic over Kentucky and college basketball media was loving the action.
The finale of the Champions Classic on Tuesday night promised to be a great one to start the 2021-22 college basketball season with the No. 9-ranked Duke Blue Devils staring down the No. 10-ranked Kentucky Wildcats, the first game in what will be Coach K’s final season with the former.
Though it was tightly contested throughout both halves, it was Duke that ultimately pulled away with the 79-71 win. They rode big performances from their star freshman, Trevor Keels and Paolo Banchero, who combined for 47 points, to the big win. Kentucky held their own, though, which was in doubt after a shaky exhibition showing against Miles College.
Still, it’s the Blue Devils that scored the win over John Calipari’s team. But after the meeting, the college basketball media was just plain impressed with what they saw on the floor at Madison Square Garden.
Duke basketball beats Kentucky: College basketball media reactions
Great game, great win for Duke, and great start to the season!!!
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) November 10, 2021
Most of all GREAT to have fans back at the games. We missed you somethin awful.
Came away feeling like Duke is underrated (can't believe I'm saying it) and Kentucky can eventually be worthy of its ranking but didn't execute on offense like I expected a team with so many veterans to.
— Justin Rowland (@RowlandRIVALS) November 10, 2021
Duke is just better. Not sure that will change at any point this season because Paolo Banchero is that good. Still a high ceiling for Kentucky though.
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) November 10, 2021
Kentucky ain't gonna shoot 37% from the field much this year. Nor will they have a 23-7 FT differential. Not worried. This team will be better than Duke and basically everyone else come March.
— Bobby Reagan (@BarstoolReags) November 10, 2021
This Kentucky team is going to be a lot of fun
— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) November 10, 2021
Duke is really good and I think Kentucky can be really good
Going to be a fun year
Good grief! Kentucky just needs to take a layup, which Duke was letting them, and it is Duke to the line and winning bet.
— Kevin Walsh Jr. (@TheKevinWalsh) November 10, 2021
Kentucky only scoring 6 points in the final 6 minutes didn't help either. https://t.co/6geaVunznO
I think these two teams may see each other again in March/April. Kentucky is very good!
— Andre Dawkins (@dre_dawkins) November 10, 2021
The general consensus — though not unanimous, seems to be that both Duke and Kentucky showed well on Tuesday night at the Champions Classic and have bright seasons ahead.
It’s hard to argue with that as well. The Wildcats are clearly still gelling but to hang with a team as talented as the Blue Devils for 40 minutes and never truly be out of it speaks highly of Calipari’s squad. And as for the talented counterparts, the Coach K Farewell Tour seems as if it’s going to run quite smoothly with this group on the floor.
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